During a presentation at Monday’s Midland Development Corp. meeting, Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance President James Beauchamp revealed that the Texas Department of Public Safety has agreed to construct a “mega-center” between Midland and Odessa near the airport.

DPS public information officer Trooper Justin Baker confirmed to the Reporter-Telegram that the public safety agency indeed agreed to construct a new facility, but he could not confirm any other details, including where it might be located.

The Reporter-Telegram reported in April that Beauchamp said DPS would close both Midland and Odessa facilities to merge them one enter. He said the new facility will have more lines than the current two centers combined and that six additional workers will be hired. Beauchamp said Monday that DPS had approved that number of new hires and that more employees are being sought to alleviate wait times, which could still stand at between one and two hours despite the extra manpower. Beauchamp said DPS strives for wait times of 30 minutes or less.

The mega-center will allow residents to make appointments by smartphone, according to the previous report. Participants will receive appointment notices on their phones, eliminating the need to wait extended periods of time at the facility.

The mega-center also will have greater accommodations for CDL testing.